Painted Screen

This is a screen I painted a few years back, for a local hair dresser. My father created the wooden screen, and I painted it to order. In this photo, the panels are not connected yet, but it turned out pretty nice. I would love to do something like this again, but not out of solid wood. It was extremely heavy, but at least it would not be easily turned over. Alas, my dear father has gone to meet our Lord, so I don't have anyone at present, who could fashion a screen for me. I'd like one created out of a wooden frame covered with canvas. I haven't seen any to purchase, but would imagine if I did, they would be very expensive. It would be much less costly to create one from scratch I would think. Maybe I can figure something out.

Getting Better

Pattern from here. I made this last night and will be giving it to of my youth kids on Wednesday night. She said she loved the fabric (which came from Mom's scrap pile) and wanted an "out-of-this-world" wallet. Well, it's not exactly out-of-this-world but she likes it and will hold her license, cards, and money. Again, MK put the snap on for me. What would I do without him?

Envelope Purse

I made an envelope purse today using this tutorial. It was SO easy!!! Really, if I can do it, anyone can. Mom gave me some scrap fabric over the weekend so I picked out two coordinating fabrics and used one for the liner and one for the exterior. The tutorial doesn't call for interfacing, but I chose to use that to give the bag a little stiffness. It's still a little flimsy, but for a simple project, it'll do.

I got to test out my sewing machine's zig-zag stitch for the first time. It's not the best job, but it's better than I expected. I'll get the hang of it eventually. This pic is of the interior before I sewed the pocket.
Finished product. It took me awhile to sew the button on but that was because I didn't have a lot of room to stick my hand in the pocket. I also did a zig-zag stitch on the exterior because that's what the picture in the tutorial showed.

This picture is blurry but I wanted you to see how large the bag is. That's a pack of hair bands inside and I used one as the elastic that hooks around the button to close it.

Here's a better shot. The stitching doesn't suck too bad! :) Not sure what I'm gonna use it for yet but maybe I can put coupons in it or put a few makeup items to stick in my purse or another bag. Who knows. It would be cool to use as a gift bag for a CD or something. What do you think?

Thursday Home/Craft/DIY Miscellany

• This article offers a great tip about not wasting time finishing books that you just can't get into. Clears clutter and saves precious time. Good thinking. While, I don't agree with "throwing the book out" as he suggests, I do suggest selling them online, putting them in a yard sale, swapping them, giving them away, or donating them to a library or library sale.
  
  
• This is a totally cool idea for DIY shelving.
  
  
• These "Don't Get Outta Bed" pants are pretty sweet (PDF download--you'll need Adobe Reader).
  
  
• This Reversible Tank Top Beach Tote doesn't require sewing and is really cute. I have a Led Zepplin shirt that I bought last year online and it's too small. I think I might make it into this cute little bag.
  
  
• This may be my weekend project. I have lots of hairbands that are brand new that I purchased right before I chopped off my hair. They will be perfect to use.
  
  
• And now, for a couple of movie trailers that look kinda good.
  
  I've been wanting to read this book and now they're making a movie.
  The Time Traveler's Wife Trailer
  
  
  Who doesn't love a good Bruce Willis movie? This sci-fi, dystopic thriller looks pretty awesome.
  SURROGATES trailer in HD
  
  
  This mockumentary staring Michael Cera looks really cute.
  Paper Heart
  
  
  

Cute Camera Strap Giveaway

Go on over to Make It and Love It and leave a comment to win a tres chic camera strap (ahem, Sooz and Chelle).

Per Your Request

I made this bag last night. Several of you knew I was doing it and asked me to post pictures. So, here they are. The pattern is from Simplicity New Look (#6574) and is the bag in the bottom left corner.


I have the hardest time reading patterns. The instructions seem to me as if they don't match the diagrams. And what they call the different sides always sound the same. I couldn't figure out which side was the bag front, the front facing, the bag back, and bag back facing. It all sounds the same to me!!! And what seems to take the longest with me is cutting, pinning, and figuring out the instructions. I spent FIVE hours on this bag last night. It should have taken maybe an hour and a half but I kept having to read Step 4 over and over and over.

The material I used is from a Waverly Home top sheet that I no longer have use for. I have always loved the pretty pattern of the material and decided that I wouldn't be wasting it if I created some "practice" projects. I had some white fabric that I used for the liner. The pattern said to use the same material inside and out, but I like contrasting liner fabric and therefore used the white. The thread I have is kind of crappy. I don't know why but it seemed very fragile. I did have to use the seam ripper more times than I care to admit and it made it easy to take the thread out, but I don't know how well it will hold up.

Finished bag

I had a problem with the stitching on the handle because I had to sew it together on the inside and by the time I turned the bag right side out, I realized there was a problem but didn't feel like going back because I had already had enough problems. Does anyone know of a way to fix this?

The inside lining.

I think it's so cute! I just wish the handle was stitched better. Oh, and for some reason the front side of one of the handles and the back side of the same handle didn't end up the same width; so, they don't exactly match up. Oh, well. I guess it gives it character.

Sunday Afternoon Project

This afternoon, I decided to attempt this camera carrier. Cute, right? Absolutely.

Well, what should have taken me maybe an hour turned into a three hour project. I had issues figuring out which side needed to go where. I tried to follow the directions but kept getting confused when I needed to sew the sides together. I probably turned the material inside out over 20 times. Plus, I didn't have any ribbon to use for closing the case, so I decided to use a snap. I couldn't figure out how to put the snap together, so I had to enlist the help of MK. He put it together for me. AND, the stitching is something to be desired.

So, here's the finished product. It is not at all as good as I wanted it to look. However, I finished it. I wasted a lot of time doing it, but it's done. I got really frustrated with myself for having so many problems. Maybe next time I'll do better.

Felt liner and outer fabric that I bought in the remant basket at Walmart.


As MK says, "It's not too bad. It serves its purpose." Haha.